Electrical Safety First – the new home of electrical safety advice

Last Friday the 28^th of March 2014, the Electrical Safety Council changed its name to Electrical Safety First. Now the replacement name was widely anticipated by electricians, however for the public, this is likely to be new news.

Electrical Safety Who?

Did you know of the Electrical Safety Council before? If you didn't know anything about them, you are not alone. In a recent Government report published only last month about improving public awareness of electrical safety, it revealed that public awareness of Part P was at a dismal 14%.

As part of an 18 month extensive research programme that saw the then Electrical Safety Council talk to the public, Government, the electrical industry and other interested parties about what they thought the Electrical Safety Council was about. The results of the research indicated that no one really knew who they were. Some thought they were a trade association and others thought they formed part of Government. There was no solid evidence to indicate that anyone knew them as an electrical consumer charity dedicated to improving electrical safety in the home and prevent death and injury caused by electricity. Did you know that?

What will Electrical Safety First do?

As a result of the findings, a re-brand exercise and change of name was decided. As of 28^th March 2014 the Electrical Safety Council became known as Electrical Safety First. It's focus is to increase consumer (that is the public) awareness of electrical safety in the home and to break down the complicated terminology about electrical safety that seems to exist anywhere we look. In a nutshell, it's aim is to simplify in a non-patronising way the meaning of electrical dangers and electrical safety.

How it will help

Not only will Electrical Safety First provide you with excellent electrical safety advice which you can use around your home, it will also help you with selecting the right electrical services in London for your needs. Remember if you need electrical work done in your home, use a registered electrician in South East London.

Here at Fulcher Edwards, our favourite current feature of Electrical Safety First is the re-make of the 1970's Charley says electrical safety film. It is well worth a watch and features the voice of the well known comedian David Walliams. It is a great way to begin to educate children on the dangers of electricity – but adults will love it too!

Do you overload your sockets?

The Charley says film talks about the dangers of overloading electrical sockets. If you are depending on the use of extension leads to satisfy your electrical needs or plug any appliance into an extension lead, then you may be at risk of electrical fire or worse still electrical injury. 350,000 people every year in the UK are injured as a result of electricity. Extension leads should not be used at all in a kitchen and only minimally around the home. This is because extension leads increase the risk of sockets overheating. Fires can start inside a wall without being noticed until they are well established.

Simply plugging in a kettle and a toaster will overload an extension lead. In fact all kitchen appliances should have their own socket because they use far more power individually than other electrical items such as televisions, computers and games consoles put together.

If you need more electrical sockets, then a qualified and registered domestic electrician in London will be happy to help. Do not compromise your electrical safety in your home by over using extension leads.

Will Electrical Safety First make a difference?

We hope it will as it provides some very useful advice to householders whether they own or rent their home on electrical safety. In fact, we often refer many our own clients to Electrical Safety First knowing it contains easy to understand and useful information.

Combined with the all new single electricians register due out in June 2014, Electrical Safety First should form the beginnings of a much needed consumer resource which if their research is proven, will form the basis of the long road of increasing public knowledge about electrical safety and Part P which will allow people to make safe decisions when it comes to home electrics.